diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 81118b45a..be82743b3 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 - Docs: clarify auth storage, migration, and OpenAI Codex OAuth onboarding.
 - Sandbox: copy inbound media into sandbox workspaces so agent tools can read attachments.
 - Control UI: show a reading indicator bubble while the assistant is responding.
+- Control UI: animate reading indicator dots (honors reduced-motion).
 - Control UI: stabilize chat streaming during tool runs (no flicker/vanishing text; correct run scoping).
 - Status: show runtime (docker/direct) and move shortcuts to `/help`.
 - Status: show model auth source (api-key/oauth).
diff --git a/ui/src/styles/components.css b/ui/src/styles/components.css
index 7c7c4df03..12dbdbec9 100644
--- a/ui/src/styles/components.css
+++ b/ui/src/styles/components.css
@@ -608,6 +608,7 @@
 }
 
 .chat-reading-indicator__dots > span {
+  display: inline-block;
   width: 6px;
   height: 6px;
   border-radius: 999px;
@@ -615,6 +616,7 @@
   opacity: 0.55;
   transform: translateY(0);
   animation: chatReadingDot 1.1s ease-in-out infinite;
+  will-change: transform, opacity;
 }
 
 .chat-reading-indicator__dots > span:nth-child(2) {
@@ -629,12 +631,12 @@
   0%,
   80%,
   100% {
-    opacity: 0.45;
-    transform: translateY(0);
+    opacity: 0.38;
+    transform: translateY(0) scale(0.92);
   }
   40% {
-    opacity: 0.95;
-    transform: translateY(-2px);
+    opacity: 1;
+    transform: translateY(-3px) scale(1.18);
   }
 }